Christian Living and Devotions

Thursday, February 27, 2014

{Romans 8:3} For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

{Romans 8:4} that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. -- RLIV.

Jesus, while in the days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7), through his absolute obedience to God, thereby condemned sin the flesh. None of Adam's offspring could do this, for they were all of sinful flesh, having been made so through the sin of Adam. (Romans 5:12-19) Jesus' flesh, however, was prepared by God separate from the condemnation in Adam. (Hebrews 10:5) Thus, Jesus is the only human being that was born into this corrupted world without sin, and he was the only human being that could offset the condemnation of mankind through Adam, if he -- unlike Adam -- remained without sin. Jesus did remain without sin, and thus could offer up his sinless humanity on behalf of Adam and all who are dying in Adam. (1 Corinthians 15:21,26; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; 1 Peter 2:22-24; 3:18) Jesus, by his obedience, proved that a sinless human being could obey God's law, and thus, by means Jesus' sacrifice of his humanity, God remained just while providing a means of justification to the sinner through Jesus. -- Romans 3:26.

Further comments:

As Adam was sinless before he sinned and brought sin into the world of mankind (Romans 5:12), the God and Father of Jesus (Micah 5:4; Ephesians 1:3) especially prepared a sinless body for Jesus (Hebrews 10:5) so that Jesus, while in the days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7), did not inherit the sin of Adam and its condemnation. (Romans 5:12-19) Unlike Adam, however, Jesus, while in the days of his flesh, never fell short of the glory of his God (Romans 3:23), and thus could offer his body of flesh with its blood to his God for our sins.

It is only because Jesus was indeed a human being, having the full crown of glory a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:9), sinless -- never having fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5) -- that Jesus' obedience condemned sin in the flesh (Romans 8:30, and by his sacrifice of his humanity, made the way for God to remain just, while yet justifying the sinner. -- Romans 3:26.

Nevertheless, we believe that Jesus, before he became flesh, had a mighty glory when he was with his God from a time even before the world of mankind was made. (John 1:1-3; 17:1,3,5) When he became, or was made flesh (John 1:14), Jesus received from his God (Micah 5:2) a body of flesh (Hebrews 10:5), with a glory of a sinless man, a little lower than the angels. (Hebrews 2:9) Jesus sacrificed that body of flesh with its blood as an offering to God for our sins. -- Hebrews 9:11,12,23,24,25; 10:1,10.

Jesus condemned sin the flesh, and his offering for sin provided for justification, something that the Law could not do because of weakness of the flesh, which all of Adam's descendants have inherited through Adam.

Paul many times made it clear that one cannot be justified by keeping the Law Covenant, and he made it clear that the only way one can be justified in this age is through faith in Jesus. At the same, we need to remember that the Law Covenant is based on God's eternal righteous standards, thus the Law presents the righteous principles of God's law of love. Thus, Paul wrote, that Jesus condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk after the law covenant given to flesh, but rather after the spirit, the law of love. Thus, the goal of a regenerated child of God is to cultivate the fruit of the spirit. -- Galatians 5:22,23.

-- Ronald R. Day, Senior.

What Law Was Weak?

How God's Son Condemned Sin in the Sinful Flesh

Sinful Flesh

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

James 1:26 -- Bridle the Tongue

James 1:26 - If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. -- New American Standard Version.

The word "religious" is translated from a word that carries various shades of meaning. Abbot-Smith gives it the meaning of "careful of the outward forms of divine service." It is common to confuse the service of God with outward ritual or sectarian religious devotion, which, in effect, may be a devotion to ceremony and/or to certain leaders, placing such leaders as being the same as, or having some kind of exclusion in representing God and Christ.

However, James applies this in the context of the use of the tongue, regarding the words that come forth from our mouth. One may profess to honor God with the lips, but words spoken in common usage reveal what is in the heart. -- Matthew 15:8; Mark 7:6; Luke 6:45.

A bridle is used to guide a horse or other animal. James used this as a figure of how we should guide, or control our tongue, that is, the words we speak. James expresses in the context that if one has full control of his tongue so as to not trespass with his words, that one is a perfect man. At the same time, he points out that this is not the case, for we all use our tongue in some way that falls short of the glory of God, due to the fallen flesh. (Romans 3:23; 5:12-19) Although it should not be, we all at times misuse our tongue for gossip, slander, cursing, and/or swearing, often without realizing we have done so. James tells us, however, that we should, to a great extent, gain control over the words we speak, even if that control is not fully perfected in our fallen flesh. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

More comments:

Most of us commit some sin every day; if not every day, at least many times every week, possibly without even being aware that we have fallen short, especially when it come to how we use our tongue. I have not met anyone who does not in some way fall short in using their tongue. Indeed, if one has full control of his tongue that person is perfect. (James 3:2) But none of us will ever reach such perfection while we still have our sinful flesh. -- Romans 8:3.

Whether in anger or by habit, all of God's people at times swear and may even curse, and many times gossip. (Matthew 5:33-37; James 3:3-8; 5:12) All who belong to Christ are in constant need every day to have heart repentance for such sins, while striving against all sin (Hebrews 12:4-17; James 1:26; 1 Peter 3:10), and come before the throne of grace. -- Hebrews 4:16.

As long as our sin is due to the weakness of the flesh (Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38; Romans 7:18-25;8:3), it is not such a sin that brings the condemnation of the second death. (Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 5:16,17) Only after the new creature has an accurate knowledge of the truth, and then willfully sins (not a sin due to the weakness of the flesh), there is no more a sacrifice to be offered for such. -- Hebrews 10:26-29. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

Daily Heavenly Manna for February 20 * BSM Aids * Video

Unto the Pure All Things Are Pure

Truthful Words -- Polite Speech

Faith in Control of the Tongue

Control of the Tongue a Necessity

Common Swear and Curse Words

Swearing and Cursing

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